Howard Blum is the author of New York Times bestsellers including Dark Invasion , the Edgar Award–winner American Lightning , as well as Wanted!, The Gold Exodus, Gangland , The Floor of Heaven and Night of the Assassins . Blum is a contributing editor at Airmail, his series of articles on The Idaho Murders were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. While at the New York Times , he was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. Read Howard Blum at Air Mail...
Feb 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1251
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Do you agree with Jamie Dimon that "the young generation is being damaged" by remote work? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday....
Feb 14, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1250
Senator Angus King (I-ME) joins Michael to share his thoughts on today's top headlines. Original air date 13 February 2025.
Feb 13, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1249
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Is it essential for any peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine to include Russia surrendering all territories seized since 2014? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks...
Feb 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1248
With the fast moves that Elon Musk is making under the "Department of Government Efficiency" umbrella as directded by President Trump, many say this might be illegal under the constitution, as all other branches of government are not being involved in the decision making. Are we in a constitutional crisis? NBC/MSNBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos joins Michael to say, no. Original air date 12 February 2025.
Feb 12, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1247
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: If Elon Musk uncovers substantial waste, fraud, and abuse, will skepticism about his motives overshadow his findings? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in th...
Feb 12, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1246
Admiral James Stavridis is a retired four-star U.S. naval officer. He is currently Partner and Vice Chair, Global Affairs of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. He is also 12th Chair of Rockefeller Foundation board. Previously he served for five years as the 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as 16th Supreme Allied Commander with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syr...
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1245
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should the U.S. Treasury stop minting new pennies? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Feb 11, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1244
There's more to the story: If the USAID doesn't spend $20M on funding Sesame Street broadcasts in war-torn areas to teach literacy, inclusion, and critical health lessons to children, who will they learn from instead of Big Bird? Some might say, Al-Qaeda. This conversation is about the bigger picture, about how programs like the aforementioned are part of the United States showing its "Soft Power" around the world. Learn much more here in Michael's interview with the person who coined that "Soft...
Feb 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1243
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: If the 2024 presidential election were re-run today, would the result be the same? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Feb 10, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1242
Sal Paolantonio covers the National Football League for SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, NFL Life and Fantasy Football Now. He also hosts the long-running X's and O's weekly preview show, NFL Matchup.
Feb 07, 2025•10 min
While Elon Musk and his "Department of Government Efficiency" are slashing areas of federal spending to combat the current national debt ($36 trillion) and the current fiscal year's deficit ($711 billion), we remember going through something similar back in 2010: Simpson-Bowles, known as "The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform." There were 12 members of Congress and 6 private citizens on the commission. In the end, they failed to get the required super-majority vote to advan...
Feb 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1241
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should the personal views and public statements of an actor/actress influence whether they win an Academy Award? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this po...
Feb 07, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1240
Abrahm Lustgarten wrote this Op-Ed for the New York Times, "That Giant Sucking Sound? It’s Climate Change Devouring Your Home’s Value." He is the author of On The Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America.
Feb 06, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1239
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Which poses a greater threat to the U.S.? 1) Elon Musk's unchecked influence over federal bureaucracy, or 2) Uncontrolled federal spending and deficit growth. Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great c...
Feb 06, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1238
Michael asks American journalist and founder of the interactive media platform 2WAY , "Should The U.S. take over Gaza?". Mark Halperin joins Michael every Wednesday during the second our of his program to discuss the most pressing politics of the day. He offers two different points of view on this "evolving matter". Original air date 5 February 2025.
Feb 05, 2025•35 min•Ep. 1237
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should the U.S. take over Gaza? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Feb 05, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1236
Read Andrew Van Dam's piece Is America still a nation of small businesses?
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1235
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Did the United States benefit from President Trump's tariff threats against Canada and Mexico? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday...
Feb 04, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1234
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) joins Michael to talk about President Trump's tariff plans, trade, and other headlines surrounding the new President and Congress. Michael opens the conversation asking about a July 10, 2024 Senate Democratic Caucus meeting that was written about by Annie Karni and Luke Broadwater in a forthcoming book "Mad House." Senator Coons was not interviewed for that book, and shares his version of what happened inside that room, regarding discussions about calls for then-Presid...
Feb 03, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1233
The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Feb 03, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1232
In his NY Post piece, Professor Francione writes "I’ve been concerned about the direction of the party for a while now, but I was hoping it would correct itself. I was certain it would do so after getting completely hammered in the last election. But I was wrong. The Democratic Party seems determined to continue its headlong march into the oblivion of identity politics. The straw that made the camel leave the party came in the form of the Democratic reaction to H.R. 28, Protection of Women and G...
Feb 01, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1231
Listen to Michael's conversation from Tuesday, January 28th 2025 with Jo Ellis here in Episode #1226. Read "Living to Serve, Living as Myself: A Transgender Service Member’s Perspective" by Jo Ellis at Smerconish.com....
Jan 31, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1230
The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Jan 31, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1229
A deep dive into former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick to be the next Director of National Intelligence. Michael welcomes New York Times Features Writer Elizabeth Williamson who has written about Gabbard. The conversation then expands to Robert F Kennedy Jr's nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary, and we wonder, which of the two has a more difficult path forward? Original air date 30 January 2025.
Jan 30, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1228
The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Jan 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1227
Read "Living to Serve, Living as Myself: A Transgender Service Member’s Perspective" by Jo Ellis at Smerconish.com.
Jan 29, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1226
Subscribe to Michael's YouTube channel!
Jan 29, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1225
Multiple headlines read "A shocking Chinese AI advancement" ... what?! Michael turns to IFi-AI CEO and CNBC Senior Analyst and Commentator Ron Insana for expert insight into what caused US stocks to drop sharply on Monday. Then, hear stories, including from Michael, on how artificial intelligence is affecting people's work across various industries. Original air date 28 January 2025.
Jan 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 1224
Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Should transgender individuals be precluded from military service? Listen here to Michael's take, then vote at Smerconish.com, and please leave a rating and review of this podcast! The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.
Jan 28, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1223
